AICE U.S. History Unit 1 Origins of the Civil War Vocabulary

Natural Rights/John Locke

Life, liberty, and property/pursuit of happiness were the ideas proposed by English philosopher and influential Enlightenment thinker John Locke (known as the father of liberalism). These were the rights that all men were born with, and the government could not take these rights away from anyone.

Popular Sovereignty/Consent of the Governed

power and authority to govern resides with the people. The people in a territory had the right to choose their own method of government for the state they would become, and specifically, if they were a free or slave state. Consent of the governed refers to the people's acceptance of their government and their willingness to be ruled by said government.

Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776, formal document that proclaimed the United States' independence from Britain at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, he originally planned a section regarding slavery in the document, but decided to remove it in the final draft (bro was also a slave owner).

Northwest Ordinance Act

Established in 1787, this act allowed the formation of states in the Northwest Territory (divided into 3-5 states). Slavery was outlawed in the states that formed here. Section 16 of this act was a 1 square mile plot of land in each township that was reserved for public schools. When a territory had 5,000 residents, it could create a self-governing legislature. When a territory had 60,000 residents, it could apply to become a U.S. state.

Constitution/Bill of Rights

Created after the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution laid the foundations of the U.S. government by dividing it into 3 branches (judicial, legislative, executive). The Bill of Rights is included in the Constitution, and it comprises the first 10 amendments.

Fugitive Slave Clause

Article IV, Section 2, Clause 3 of the Constitution, which stated that slaves who escaped must be returned to their owners despite state boundaries and whether they were a free or slave state (didn't matter; once a slave, always a slave). It was later abolished in the Thirteenth Amendment.

Three-Fifths Clause

A provision signed into the Constitution in 1787 that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted in determining each state's representation in the House of Representatives and its electoral votes for president (CLAUSE MEANS IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE CONSTITUTION).

Slave Trade Clause

Stated that the government couldn't prohibit slavery, but would tax it (slavery was essential to the economy of southern states). In 1808, Congress ended the international slave trade. New England supported it because port towns made a lot of money from it. (Constitution does not directly mention slavery or slaves, but refers to them as 'persons' which was easily interpreted as African American people who were imported to America).

Frederick Douglass

(1817-1895) American abolitionist and writer, he escaped slavery and became a leading African American spokesman and writer. He published his biography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and founded the abolitionist newspaper, the North Star.

Manumission/Emancipation Sectionalism

Manumission is the legal process by which a slave owner grants his slaves legal freedom. Sectionalism is the expression of loyalty or support for a particular region of a country instead of the country as a whole. This refers to residents of the North seeing themselves as free states/abolitionists and residents of the South being proud slave owners and supporters of slavery since the economy was heavily dependent on it. Emancipation is the act of freeing enslaved individuals.

36° 30' Latitude Line (Missouri Compromise)

No slavery in the U.S. lands gained in Louisiana Purchase above 36° 30' line with exception of Missouri. The Missouri Compromise was signed by President James Monroe (5th U.S. president) in March 1820. It proclaimed Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. Bill was repealed by Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Tallmadge Amendment

(February 13, 1819) Failed proposal by Rep. James Tallmadge to ban slavery and prevent the expansion of slavery.

Cotton Gin (Eli Whitney AICE EURO REFERENCE!!)

Invented in 1793 or 1794 by Eli Whitney, it cleaned the seeds from the cotton rapidly. Separating by hand would lead to injury and take much longer to do. If blood was on the cotton, it could no longer be used. Cotton production increased immensely.

King Cotton

COTTON IS KING. Cotton became a dominant crop and economic force in the South prior to the Civil War. Everyone bought cotton from the southern states, including Britain and the northern states.

Slave Apologists/Wage Slaves

Slave apologists were people who defended slavery (pro slavery). This was mostly popular in the South. Some apologists claimed that blacks were beasts, subhumans, or a degenerated form of human species. Wage slavery refers to someone's dependence on wages for livelihood. This appeared when capitalism was becoming especially popular within America.

Peculiar Institution

IT'S LITERALLY JUST SLAVERY. Basically called the South a "peculiar institution" since slavery was limited to that region of the U.S. only. The north saw that as hella weird and therefore, that's where the name came from. Also a book written by Kenneth M. Stampp, published in 1956.

Abolitionists

people who argue that slavery should be banned and slaves should be freed, usually for moral or religious reasons. This was rising in 1850s America.

Nat Turner

Nathaniel "Nat" Turner, an enslaved blackie who led the rebellion of enslaved people on August 21, 1831 (Nat Turner's Rebellion). This set off a massacre of 200 blackie people, and new waves of oppression where slaves couldn't get an education, move, or assemble together. He was sold 3 times in his childhood and hired by John Travis. Nat and 6 other blackies killed the Travis family (his slave owner's fam).

Texas Revolution

War between Texas settlers and Mexico from October 1835-April 1836 resulting in the formation of the Republic of Texas. It was one of the rebellions that broke out after Santa Anna suspended powers in Texas and other Mexican states. Mostly caused by differences between Mexicans and American settlers, including religion (Mexicans were Roman Catholic, Americans were Protestant), views on slavery (Mexicans abolished slavery in 1829, most settlers were from southern states so they wanted slavery), and other reasons (go read ur damn notes bruh) :3

James K. Polk

11th President of the United States from Tennessee; committed to Westward expansion; led the country during the Mexican War; U.S. annexed Texas and took over Oregon during his administration. Also a slaveholder who strongly favored Texas annexation.

Manifest Destiny/John O'Sullivan

In December 1845, journalist John O'Sullivan wrote an article about the philosophy of manifest destiny and how it is the God-given mandate (Providence is God) to expand on American land (spread from sea to sea) and continue Westward expansion. This was also used to spread democracy and capitalism.

Nueces River vs. Rio Grande

While the United States claimed that Texas's border stretched to the Rio Grande, Mexico claimed it was the Nueces River. President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor south to the Rio Grande, starting the Mexican War.

Conscience Whigs

Founded in 1834, Northern Whigs who opposed slavery on moral grounds. Conscience Whigs sought to prevent the annexation of Texas as a slave state, fearing that the new slave territory would only serve to buttress (not ass, just serve as butler) the Southern "slave power." Future founders of the Republican Party.

Cotton Whigs

Southern Whigs who supported slavery. They made money off of it because slaves were cotton pickers, and THE SOUTH IS KING COTTON. ALL HAIL COTTON, COTTON IS KING.

Wilmot Proviso

A proviso is a limit imposed on another item. Wilmot Proviso was proposed by David Wilmot, a democratic member of the House of Representatives from the state of Pennsylvania. The Proviso was an attempt to get rid of slavery in lands expected to be acquired from Mexico. It was never passed in Congress, and it got rejected twice, in 1846 and 1847 (what a freaking L).

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

Signed on February 2nd, 1848. Mexico ceded territories of New Mexico and California to the United States as they surrendered and accepted defeat from the battles fought (check ur notes girl). Mexico also agreed that the Rio Grande was the border between Mexico and Texas.

Mexican Cession

In 1848, after the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, the U.S. pays $15 million for Mexican Cession (Mexico gave up the territories mentioned): present-day California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, most of Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. This was now 'MURICAN TERRITORY .

Gadsden Purchase

1854 purchase when the United States paid Mexico $10 million for a 29,640 square mile region in present-day southern Arizona and Southwestern New Mexico. This purchase was made through the Treaty of Mesilla.

Gold Rush 49ers

FORTY NINERS were the prospectors who rushed to California in 1849 in search of gold. They were migrants from Asia, South America, and Europe. The Gold Rush started when, on January 24, 1848, carpenter James Marshall found shiny particles (gold bits) near John Sutter's sawmill. News of discoveries spread like wildfire and the rush began. Effects of this? Population of California exceeded 100,000 by the end of 1849.

William Seward

Secretary of State who was responsible for purchasing Alaskan Territory from Russia. By purchasing Alaska, he expanded the territory of the country at a reasonable price. MANIFEST DESTINY, EXPAND THE UNITED STATES (this is not manifest destiny, this is buying).

Popular Sovereignty/Stephen Douglas (already got that but ok)

Popular Sovereignty is already up there, not writing again. Stephen A. Douglas (Illinois Senator) ran in the 1860 presidential election against Abraham Lincoln (w Abraham Lincoln because he ate and he won). Douglas beat Lincoln in the 1858 election, but debated Lincoln on slavery and Douglas championed popular sovereignty.

Fugitive Slave Act of 1793

Gave effect to the Fugitive Slave Clause of the Constitution (mentioned above). Slaves that ran away from their masters into a different slave state or a free state would be captured and returned to their owners.

William Lloyd Garrison

white abolitionist who wrote the "Liberator" newspaper in 1831, which lasted until 1865 (end of the Civil War). Led abolition campaigns with other abolitionists in Massachusetts. He tore up the Fugitive Slave Law and is also known as a radical and agitator.

Sojourner Truth

worked with William Lloyd Garrison in the Anti-Slavery Society. Gave the speech "Ain't I a Woman?" in 1851. Also worked with Frederick Douglass.

Dred Scott

a slave who lived in Missouri and was taken to Wisconsin by his master. Lived there for 2 years before returning to Missouri. Sued in a Missouri court for freedom, arguing that he touched free soil, and that made him a free blackie (no longer enslaved). Dred Scott v. Sandford. They said hell nah because he is PROPERTY, not a person.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

series of 7 debates for the spot of Senator of Illinois. Douglas won the Senate seat. Lincoln and Douglas expressed their viewpoints on slavery, the Dred Scott decision, NEGRO RIGHTS, differences between themselves (Lincoln and Douglas), and whether the Union could remain half free and half slavery.

House Divided Speech

speech made by Abraham Lincoln after being nominated for Republican president. He stated that the Union/government cannot handle being half slave and half free.
Impact of this? Douglas claimed Lincoln was a radical (he wasn't) and said that Lincoln did not believe in the state's fundamental beliefs, and would abolish slavery.

The south Carolina exposition

The South Carolina Exposition and Protest was a document written in 1828 by John C. Calhoun, then Vice President of the United States, that protested the Tariff of 1828 and introduced the idea of nullification

Outlined the state's grievances and argued that the government had exceeded its authority in passing the tariff

Tariff of 1828

The Tariff of 1828 was a protective tariff that raised duties on certain raw materials to between 30-50%. This benefited northern manufacturers but hurt southern plantation owners, who were dependent on European trade for their cotton and tobacco.

Nullification crisis

The Nullification Crisis of 1832-33 erupted the previous November when South Carolina nullified a federal tariff that favored Northern manufacturing over Southern agriculture. Complicating matters, Jackson's vice president at that time, South Carolina native John C.

Gag rule

A gag rule is a parliamentary procedure that limits or prevents discussion of a particular topic. It can also refer to legislation that restricts freedom of the press.

In Congress, the House of Representatives used the “gag rule” to prohibit discussions and debates of the anti-slavery petitions.

Free soilers/ free soil party

The Free-Soil Party was against slavery in the new territories. They also advocated federal aid for internal improvements and urged free government homesteads for settlers. This Free-Soil Party foreshadowed the emergence of the Republican party.

fire-eaters

The Fire-Eaters were a group of pro-slavery, radical, and extreme Southern leaders who advocated for secession from the United States in the years leading up to the American Civil War

The Fire-Eaters opposed the admission of California as a free state and the ending of the slave trade in Washington, D.C. during the debates that led to the Compromise of 1850

Compromise of 1850

A series of resolutions introduced by Senator Henry Clay in an attempt to prevent a crisis between the North and South.

Five laws passed in September 1850 that addressed slavery and territorial expansion in the United States: 

• California: Admitted as a free state 

• Utah and New Mexico: Organized as territories without restrictions on slavery 

• Texas-New Mexico boundary: Settled with Texas receiving $10 million for the land south of the 32nd parallel and south of the 36°30' parallel 

• Washington, D.C.: Slave trade abolished, but slave ownership was permitted 

• Fugitive Slave Act: Amended to make it easier for slave owners to recover runaway slaves 

Daniel Webster

• In support of the compromise of 1850

• He wanted to preserve the Union

• Thought slavery was wrong

• But to keep the southern states from seceding, he supported the Compromise of 1850 allowing slavery in new territories.

underground railroad

Underground Railroad, in the United States, a system existing in the Northern states before the Civil War by which escaped slaves from the South were secretly helped by sympathetic Northerners, in defiance of the Fugitive Slave Acts, to reach places of safety in the North or in Canada.

Harriet Tubman

Tubman was a famous conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping slaves escape to freedom in the North.

liberated more than 700 slaves

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

In Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe shared ideas about the injustices of slavery, pushing back against dominant cultural beliefs about the physical and emotional capacities of black people

Aunt Phillis’ Cabin

Aunt Phillis's Cabin by Mary Henderson Eastman is significant because it was a response to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin and was one of the most well-known "anti-Tom" novels of its time

The novel is set in a rural Virginia town where the plantation owners treat their slaves well to keep them peaceful and ensure the safety of the town. The story highlights the contrast between the perceived happiness of the enslaved people and the underlying issues of slavery. 

Kansas Nebraska Act

created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opening new lands for settlement.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, created two new territories, and allowed for popular sovereignty. It also produced a violent uprising known as “Bleeding Kansas,” as proslavery and antislavery activists flooded into the territories to sway the vote.

Bleeding Kansas

Kansans engaged in a violent guerrilla war between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces in an event known as Bleeding Kansas

The violence in Kansas intensified the debate over slavery and deepened the divide between the North and South. The events in Kansas also led to the Lecompton Constitution crisis, when national politicians were pressured to accept a constitution that would legalize or prohibit slavery

Border Ruffians

Border ruffians were pro-slavery Missourians who crossed into Kansas Territory in the mid-1800s to influence the decision of whether Kansas would become a free or slave state

• Border ruffians participated in a variety of illegal activities, including: 

  • Voting illegally in Kansas elections 

  • Organizing secret societies to transport and pay proslavery families to migrate and vote 

  • Intimidating and harassing Free-State settlers at polling places 

  • Making raids

• part of bleeding Kansas

Secession

Secession is the formal act of a group or state withdrawing from a political entity, such as the United States

The most famous example of secession in US history is the secession of 11 slave states from the Union between 1860 and 1861. This secession led to the formation of the Confederate States of America and the American Civil War. (South Carolina)

John Brown: Pottawatomie

The Pottawatomie Massacre took place on May 24–25, 1856, when abolitionist John Brown and his followers murdered five men from a proslavery settlement on Pottawatomie Creek in Kansas:

• led to the beginning of bleeding Kansas

• The massacre showed that the anti-slavery side was willing to use violence to oppose the pro-slavery side.

Caning of Charles Sumner

The "Caning of Charles Sumner" refers to a violent incident in the U.S. Senate where a Representative from South Carolina, Preston Brooks, attacked Senator Charles Sumner from Massachusetts with a cane, brutally beating him on the Senate floor after Sumner gave a speech strongly criticizing slavery and a pro-slavery senator from South Carolina

Lecompton constitution

The Lecompton Constitution is a pro-slavery document. If approved it would allow slavery in the state of Kansas. Calling for a Vote. Both the proslavery constitutional convention and the free-state legislature claimed to have the authority to call for an election on the Lecompton Constitution.

Freeport Doctrine

• proposed by Stephen Douglas

• The doctrine stated that territories could prevent slavery by not passing laws that would favor slave owners, such as making it difficult to recapture escaped slaves.

• The doctrine was based on the idea of popular sovereignty, which states that the government's authority comes from the consent of the people.

• Douglas contradicted the Freeport Doctrine by essentially arguing that while the Dred Scott decision stated that territories couldn't ban slavery, local populations could effectively exclude it by refusing to pass laws that supported slavery

Harper’s ferry raid

Although the raid on Harpers Ferry was denounced by a majority of Northerners, it electrified the South—already fearful of slave rebellions—and convinced slaveholders that abolitionists would stop at nothing to eradicate slavery. It also created a martyr, John Brown, for the antislavery cause

Election of 1860

Abraham Lincoln was elected to be president of the United States in 1860 and 1864, just before and during the American Civil War. The election of 1860 shaped the future of the United States by heralding the end of slavery and marked by a time of unprecedented violence in the nation.

Constitution Union party

The Constitutional Union Party campaigned on a simple platform "to recognize no political principle other than the Constitution of the country, the Union of the states, and the Enforcement of the Laws".

• did not have an opinion on slavery

• wanted a united union

Crittenden compromise

• Extend the Missouri Compromise

• Prohibit Congress from abolishing slavery

• Protect slave owners

• Popular sovereignty

• Protect slavery in the District of Columbia